Share:
House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2013 - 2014
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | January 22, 2014 02:51 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Dan L. Miller |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Continuing Education Licensing Requirements for Social Workers |
| In the near future, I will introduce a bill that will amend Act 39 of July 9, 1987, the Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors Act, by requiring certain licensees to receive a minimum of three hours of continuing education training in special education as a condition of license renewal. Currently, Section 18 of Act 39 requires licensees to renew their license biennially. In order to have their license renewed they must provide proof of completing 30 hours of continuing education training every two years. Under my proposal, licensees who are employed or contracted by a county children, youth and family services agency must complete three of those 30 hours in special education, including training on the rights of children and parents in relation to an individualized education program (IEP). Social workers provide invaluable services to our communities in assisting children and families alike. In particular, those employed or contracted by county children and youth agencies are often responsible for removing children from unsafe home environments. This sometimes leads to placements outside the home school district. Such children are often behind educationally, and those with disabilities can be undiagnosed, misdiagnosed, and under-served due to lack of informed parental decision-makers in an IEP process. This law would make sure that those most vulnerable in our society find adequately trained assistance should they have need of children, youth and family services. Please join me in co-sponsoring this legislation. |
Introduced as HB2017